Laundry Machine Door Assembly with Adjustable Handle Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door assemblies for laundry treating machines are complex and costly due to the need for multiple configurations, requiring numerous parts and manufacturing lines to accommodate different handle positions, which increases manufacturing time and costs.
Innovation Solution
A door assembly with a fastening device that allows the rear and front frames to be connected in alternative positions, enabling the handle to be easily moved between different positions, reducing the complexity and cost of manufacturing by allowing the same parts to be used for various configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different doors with different handle configurations are manufactured to accommodate various machine locations and orientations, then the adaptability of the door assembly is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase due to the need for multiple parts and manufacturing lines
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is designed with a universal structure where the handle can be positioned in multiple locations (e.g., left side, right side, upper position, lower position) on a single door unit. This is achieved through adjustable mounting mechanisms that allow the handle to serve multiple functions and configurations without requiring separate doors for each orientation, thereby reducing part variety and assembly complexity while maintaining high adaptability to different machine installations
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different doors with different handle configurations are manufactured to accommodate various machine locations and orientations, then the adaptability of the door assembly is improved, but the manufacturing time and costs increase due to the need for different manufacturing lines
Solution Approach 1:
A single door assembly design incorporates universal mounting features that enable the handle to be installed in multiple positions (left, right, upper, lower) without requiring different door variants. This universality allows manufacturers to produce only one type of door using a single manufacturing line, while still meeting diverse customer requirements for different machine orientations and locations, thereby maintaining high productivity and reducing manufacturing costs
3Adaptability or versatility
If the handle position needs to be changed from lower to upper or from left to right configuration, then the adaptability to different machine orientations is improved, but the number of parts and assembly steps increase in conventional systems
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly incorporates a universal handle mounting system that allows the same handle and mounting components to be used in multiple positions (left, right, upper, lower) by adjusting the position of mounting brackets or clips. This eliminates the need for separate handles and mounting parts for each configuration, reducing the total quantity of parts required while maintaining the flexibility to accommodate different machine orientations and installation locations
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a door assembly (10) for a laundry treatment machine (1), apt to open and/or close an opening (4) defined in a wall (2) of the laundry treatment machine (1), the door assembly (10) comprising: - a rear frame (5) forming a rear surface of the door assembly (10) apt to face said wall (2) when the door assembly (10) closes the opening (4), the rear frame (5) including a rear frame inner edge (8a) defining a rear aperture (8); - a closing element (40) connected to the rear frame (5) to close the rear aperture (8) of the rear frame (5); - a front frame (6) arranged on a front side (5a) of the rear frame (5) and comprising: - a front supporting structure (70) having an inner edge (9a) defining a front aperture (9); - an at least partially transparent cap element (33) overlaying a front side (70a) of the front supporting structure (70), and extending over the front aperture (9), the cap element (33) forming the front surface of the door assembly (10); - a handle (50) provided on the front supporting structure (70) and/or the cap element (33); the door assembly (10) further comprising: - a covering element (60), at least partly covering the closing element (40), interposed between the rear frame (5) and the front frame (6); wherein it comprises a fastening device (200) that allows either the front frame (6) or the rear frame (5) to be connected to said rear frame (5) or front frame (6) respectively, in at least a first and a second alternative positions, so that the handle (50) provided in the front frame (6) can be positioned in at least a first and second different positions relative to the rear frame (5) and/or the rear frame (5) can be positioned in at least a first and second different positions relative to the handle (50). The invention further relates to a method to modify the position of a handle (50) in a door assembly (10)